Proptech player Juwai IQI sets up HQ, tech hub in M'sia

  • Juwai IQI chooses KL for headquarters, global research and development
  • Include digital roles, platform developers, data scientists

Proptech player Juwai IQI sets up HQ, tech hub in M'siaASIA proptech group, Juwai IQI, has chosen Malaysia as its headquarters in tandem with its plans host its global research and development (R&D) group right here in Kuala Lumpur. This centre will complement another team in Shanghai, which is its base for R&D for China.

The move has been lauded by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) as the new created roles are digital in nature and include platform and mobile app developers, data scientists and social community specialists.

“MDEC lauds Juwai IQI’s move to create a technology hub in Malaysia, as it reaffirms Malaysia as the heart of digital Asean,” said Rais Hussin, chairman of MDEC.

“MDEC as the agency leading the digital economy forward will continue to focus on attracting and nurturing investors to ensure shared prosperity for the many as we strive towards realising Malaysia 5.0.”

Located at Millerz Square, adjacent to Old Klang Road, the move is expected to create 1,000 jobs in Malaysia. Preparations to fit out the space has begun and the company is expected to move in by the first quarter of 2022.

MDEC said Juwai IQI’s move is in tandem with the government’s MyDigital initiative to attract US$17.3 billion (RM70 billion) in digitalisation investment by 2025. The total of 1,000 jobs offered by the company is also in line with MyDigital’s promise to create 500,000 jobs by 2025, it added.

[RM1 = US$0.242]

“MDEC looks forward to Juwai IQI's plans to make Malaysia its tech hub. It's a clear endorsement of investors’ confidence in Malaysia and a testament to the high level of digital skills and capabilities of our country's workforce,” said Surina Shukri, chief executive officer (CEO) of MDEC.

“The skills demanded today is something MDEC is closely keeping tabs on. Our recent analysis among various job search sites, namely LinkedIn, Jobstreet, Monster, Indeed and Jobstore, show an increasing demand for digital jobs. A total of 47,000 tech-related jobs were advertised in all five portals up to Feb 2021.”

Proptech player Juwai IQI sets up HQ, tech hub in M'siaKashif Ansari, Juwai IQI co-founder and group chief executive officer (pic, left), said that the group chose Kuala Lumpur as their headquarters for global R&D in part because of the “warm welcome and encouragement MDEC has provided.”

“We are excited to play a small part in the further development of Malaysia as the digital hub of the Asean region,” he said.

While we also have a technology team in Shanghai, the base in Kuala Lumpur will give us roots in one of the deepest pools of technology talent in the world.”

Georg Chmiel, Juwai IQI co-founder and group executive chairman said: “Juwai IQI is committed to helping lead the next wave of digital transformation. We are starting in Malaysia and expanding to Asean and the rest of Asia.

“Asia leads the world in mobile users, digital penetration, Internet users and in the penetration of 'super-apps' such as WeChat, Gojek and Grab. From its position at the heart of Asean, Malaysia has what it takes to be the digital heart of Asia.”

Ongoing efforts

According to MDEC, initiatives under the pillar of Digital Jobs and Skills have impacted more than 2 million Malaysians from the 2016 to the thrid quarter of 2020.

The agency has reached out to support the workforce in accessing skilling and income opportunities through programmes and initiatives that include the Digital Skills Training Directory, Global Online Workforce (GLOW) as well as Go-eCommerce.

On the digital investment front, MDEC claimed Malaysia has attracted RM345 billion investments to date, creating close to 185,000 jobs. In 2020 alone, new investments by pure-play technology companies amounted to RM3.98 billion, it added.

Meanwhile, new investments recorded by digital services companies stood at RM2.01 billion and created approximately 9,000 new jobs, MDEC said.

 

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